Editor,

The world,  last week, marked the International World AIDS Day. It came days after Rwanda had hosted the 6th annual paediatric conference on children infected and affected by HIV- organised by the National AIDS Control Commission (CNLS).

Thousands of children are living with HIV. This is not good news, and it’s not unique to Rwanda. But why should children be infected with HIV in the first place?

Reports indicate that thousands of infants world-wide continue to be infected every year. And whereas there are drugs which could prolong their lives, those who do not access treatment succumb to death due to AIDS in their the infant stage.

Equally, indirectly suffering are children who have not contracted HIV but whose family members and other residents in neighbouring communities are infected or  have died of AIDS.

As  experts and researchers’ heads continue rolling, one just hopes that answers to some of these challenges will be found soon.

Rosette Kalisa
Rwamagana